Misunderstandings Rampant Over Deregionalization

On August 6 the citizens of Rehoboth will have the opportunity to vote on the resumption of authority over grades K through 8. Sadly, it appears that the discussions relative to this matter are rife with misunderstanding. The vote in question is not about deregionalization. Deregionalization would involve the dissolution of the regional agreement. This is a contract between the towns of Dighton and Rehoboth that was originally signed and placed into force in 1958. The agreement was amended and the modified agreement was signed and put into force in 1987. This is the only agreement that is in effect currently and may be viewed by accessing the D-R regional web site and going to the tab for the school committee. From there chose the “Regional Agreement” tab and chose “Agreement”. The regional agreement currently in force, the one of 1987, is the seventh one down on the list. All other listings are for agreements that were suggested but never approved.

There are two sections that refer to “withdrawal” in this agreement. The first section (section VIII) refers to the withdrawal of the entire town from the agreement. This is not the applicable section. The second section (section IX) refers specifically to a member town withdrawing their grades K through 8 from the regional agreement. This is the legally binding article. Paragraph “A” clearly states that if one town in the agreement votes at an annual or special town meeting to withdraw its grades K through 8 then both towns will be withdrawn. The regional agreement will continue to exist to cover the high school only.

If the vote of the citizens on August 6th is in the affirmative, the town of Rehoboth will withdraw its grades K through 8 from the regional agreement. By default, grades K through 8 of the Town of Dighton will also be withdrawn since that part of the regional agreement will cease to be in effect. The procedure for resuming jurisdiction and electing a school committee by each town are outlined in the subsequent paragraphs. There will be approximately one year for the transition. The impact to each town should be minimal since the money now being spent through the district will simply be spent by each town on their respective middle and elementary schools. The biggest change will be organization since each town will now be directly responsible for their own grades K through 8. The district will have no part in the management of the middle and elementary schools of each town.

I hope that this serves to clarify the issues relative to the vote on August 6. Please make an effort to attend the meeting and vote. I am sure that you will hear a great deal about this matter between now and then. I hope that you remember that you can always refer to the original contract currently in force, the regional agreement of 1987.

Sincerely,
T.J. Maynard